Independent legal advice is a focused review of a document you have been asked to sign. A full retainer is the lawyer running the matter. Confusing the two is how people either overpay or under-protect themselves.
ILA is the right product for a finished agreement, a guarantee or a private mortgage. It is the wrong product for an unfinished separation.
| Topic | Independent legal advice | Full retainer |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Explanation of the document and an ILA certificate | Strategy, negotiation, drafting and, if needed, court |
| Fee model here | Quoted flat once we have the document | Free first 15 minutes, then $199 per half-hour or a flat quote for defined work |
| When it fits | The deal is already written; you need to understand it before signing | The deal does not exist yet, or the other side will not play fair |
| What it does not do | It does not renegotiate the whole file unless you expand the scope | It is not a one-hour certificate — it is representation |
Choose Independent legal advice when
- You have been handed a separation agreement, marriage contract or guarantee
- You want a certificate the other side can rely on
- You understand the deal and need it explained, not rebuilt
Choose Full retainer when
- You do not yet have an agreement
- Disclosure is missing
- You want the lawyer to negotiate or go to court